5 reasons to do a half-Ironman

Reason number one - it's not an Ironman.

Cam Mitchell March 4, 2019

Completing an Ironman is a bucket list item for many triathletes. This is a great goal, but it’s something that requires a lot of sacrifice and commitment.

So, before you make the jump to an Ironman, maybe you should do a half-Ironman first.

Here are five reasons why you should do a half-Ironman in 2019:

The swim at Multisport Canada Niagara Falls Barrelman. A half-Ironman distance race in Southern Ontario. Photo: Brad Reiter.

IT’S NOT AN IRONMAN

If you’ve been doing triathlons for a while, you’ve likely done a few sessions over the 1.9K swim, 90K bike and 21.1K run. Dedicate a few months of training, and you’ll have a blast at your first of many halves.

Related: 10 reasons to do an Ironman

The swim is only 400m longer than an Olympic tri – that’s nothing.

An Olympic swim is 1.5K. A half-Ironman swim is 1.9K. The difference is roughly 10 minutes – you’ve got this.

A half marathon is much more manageable than a full.

Doing an Ironman sounds like a great idea, until you come off of the bike and have to run a marathon.

Don’t underestimate a half-Ironman, it is challenging, but you don’t go through the same breakdown (physical and mental) as you do in an Ironman.

40K is too short, 180K is too long, but 90K is just right.

In an Olympic triathlon, you get off the bike just as you’re getting into a rhythm. In an Ironman, you can’t wait to get your butt off of the saddle. But 90K on a bike is perfect.

It doesn’t take over your life.

Lastly, and probably most important, especially if you have a job, family and other commitments, the training required for a half-Ironman doesn’t take up your life.